Willem van de Velde, the Elder

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Willem van de Velde, the Elder, (born 1611, Leiden, Neth.—died December 1693, London, Eng.), Dutch marine painter. He sailed with the Dutch fleet and painted its engagements with the English. Settling in England in 1672, he continued to paint marine subjects, often in collaboration with his son, Willem the Younger (1633–1707), who became the foremost marine painter of his time. The latter was appointed court painter by Charles II in 1677 and was commissioned to paint England’s naval battles; many of his works are housed in London’s National Maritime Museum.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper, Senior Editor.

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